There are two main reasons for infrastructure automation. First, system administrators, IT professionals and DevOps engineers need to automate as many routine tasks as possible. That's why we build tools at Stackify to help developers automate processes like application performance management, error monitoring, and log management; automation means you have more time for mission-critical tasks. Second, automation makes the management of complex, diverse environments possible and allows rapid scaling.

Whether you are using a public cloud, private cloud or hybrid cloud, infrastructure automation tools will come in handy. The following is a look at the 50 best cloud infrastructure automation tools available today, which we've listed below in alphabetical order.

Ansible is a relatively simple infrastructure automation engine that automates application deployment, configuration management, cloud provisioning and intra-service orchestration. It has hundreds of modules that ensure the support of multiple integrations including Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services, Splunk, and NetApp. Ansible allows you to centralize your infrastructure through a role-based permissions, job scheduling, and a visual dashboard.

Key Features:

Designed for multi-tier deployments

Uses simple language that approaches everyday English

Does not require additional security infrastructure

Pricing:

Ansible Tower Self Support - Ideal for smaller deployments. Costs $5,000 a year for up to 100 nodes and $10,000 for up to 250 nodes

Ansible Tower Enterprise - Perfect for Enterprises and includes 8to5 support. Costs $10,000 per annum for up to 100 nodes. Contact for a price quote if more than 100 nodes

Ansible Tower Premium - Best for mission-critical DevOps and provides 24×7 support. $14,000 per year for up to 100 nodes. Contact for a price quote if more than 100 nodes

Automate delivers desktop and server automation that builds on years of experience across thousands of customers. It integrates with cloud-based and virtual computing environments and is both flexible and cost friendly. It makes easy work of schedule management, trigger management, and task scheduling.

Bcfg2 allows system administrators to create verifiable, reproducible and consistent descriptions of their infrastructure environment. It has reporting and visualization tools to support everyday administrative tasks.

CA's automation solutions simplify and accelerate the transition from manual to automated service delivery. It ensures full capability across both physical and virtual infrastructure, services and applications. The automation drives innovation, reduces costs and speeds up business processes.

Key Features:

Intelligent technological automation that adapts to ever-changing business requirements

One of the oldest configuration engines in the market, CFEngine was first rolled out in 1993. It automates complex, large-scale and mission critical infrastructure. Global changes are made consistently and securely while ensuring compliance. It is used by major brands including Intel, LinkedIn, Panasonic, Samsung, Chevron, Comcast and Deutsche Telekom.

Key Features:

Written in C which ensures one of the leanest and fastest executing tools available. A configuration change can be deployed across 50,000 servers in just 5 minutes

Stable, mature solution tested in a diverse range of large enterprise environments

Chef is one of oldest and best-known infrastructure automation tools out there. It scales easily and can be used to manage 5 servers or 5,000. It facilitates continuous delivery and configuration management. By converting infrastructure to code, Chef enables IT professionals and cloud engineers to automate the building, deployment, and management of infrastructure.

Key Features:

Automation of tasks by employing reusable definitions

You can use the predefined resources as building blocks or define your own

Test code on a local workstation or isolated environment before deploying into production

Cisco Intelligent Automation for Cloud delivers operational efficiency, responsiveness, speed and user satisfaction. Whereas this solution blends well with other Cisco products and technological solutions, it can be integrated into an enterprise's existing non-Cisco infrastructure, systems, operational processes and service management tools.

Key Features:

User-friendly portal and service catalog

Convenient dashboard for lifecycle management, resource status, and consumption control

Enhanced visibility and discovery means a greater ability to make real-time changes

Cobbler is an installation server that allows the quick setup of installation environments. It joins and automates numerous tasks, so network administrators do not need to jump between multiple applications and commands when deploying or changing systems. It may be used for configuration orchestration, power management, package updates, DHCP, DNS and overall installation.

Key Features:

Interacts with koan for virtualization and re-installation support

Installation profiles that can be applied to one or thousands of machines

Combination of snippets, profiles, and ksmeta ensures high flexibility

Commando is a distributed online SSH platform that provides a simple way to manage servers. It enables users to improve their workflow, increase efficiency and eliminate uncertainty over server provisioning, deployment, and maintenance.

Crowbar is an Apache-2 licensed tool that allows one to build complete and easy-to-use operational deployments. Groups of network nodes can be converted into a production-ready cluster in a matter of hours.

Fabric's functions are fairly basic. If you need greater and more sophisticated functionality running on Fabric, Cuisine is what you might want to look at.

Key Features:

It consists of several high-level functions such as upgrade/installation packages, addition/removal of users/groups as well as broader file and directory operations than are possible using basic Fabric.

DivvyCloud BotFactory is an engine for automated policy enforcement on cloud infrastructure. It works on the principle of pervasive cloud discovery. It connects to cloud APIs to extract data on cloud resources irrespective of how they're provisioned or where they're running. It ensures a near real-time inventory of infrastructure via a single pane of glass.

Dynatrace monitors the virtualized environment of your private data center. Technology professionals can see the complete picture of their infrastructure in real time and keep up with the changes including machine migration.

Fabric streamlines SSH use in system administrator tasks and application deployment. It is a command line tool and Python library that provides a suite of basic operations for the execution of remote or local shell commands. Fabric is most often used for the upload and download of files.

Key Features:

Execute Python functions through the command line

A library of subroutines that make the execution of shell commands easy

HP Cloud Service Automation suite makes it easy for businesses to benefit from compliant, secure cloud services. IT professionals can simplify and automate the management and deployment of hybrid infrastructure environment. Jumpstart hybrid or private cloud implementations with several quick options.

Key Features:

Self-service, intuitive and customizable portal with mash up capabilities and modern shopping experience

Unified, comprehensive and highly automated lifecycle management

Extensible, open architecture with one-touch provisioning of applications, operating systems, and infrastructure

ISconf is a tool for managing infrastructure configuration and build. It is somewhat a cross between sudo and Git, Bitkeeper or other distributed version control tool. All changes made via ISconf are not only journaled but also added to a repository where they are queued for execution on target machines.

Key Features:

Target machines do not need to be online or built at the time of queuing the changes. Once the machine is turned on and built, ISconf will consult the journal and execute the required changes in the set order.

MagniComp RDist is an open source application for maintaining identical copies of files across multiple hosts. It preserves details of the file including owner, mode, group and mtime. MagniComp RDist differs from older rdist versions in that the server and client portions are separated into two programs.

Key Features:

Instead of making the connection to remote hosts directly, it uses ssh or rsh thus eliminating the need to setuid to root

Can perform encrypted and secure updates

Supports automated system configuration and therefore works on many Linux/Unix based systems

Mist.io is a secure cloud management engine for orchestration and automation, as well as usage and cost monitoring. It targets system administrators, developers and any IT professionals engaged in remote, on-premise or hybrid computing.

NexentaStor is an easy to use, full-featured, and unified storage solution. It allows the execution, management, and analysis of routine storage tasks. NexentaStor has an impressive track record of deployment across a wide range of industries. It helps enterprises increase performance, flexibility, and agility while lowering overall costs by 50% or more.

Key Features:

Unified File and Block Services

Enterprise-grade performance and data integrity that includes the ability to scale from tens of terabytes to petabytes

NixOS is a Linux distribution that provides a unique approach to configuration and package management. The operating system is built from a description in a wholly functional build language. Wholly functional means new configuration builds cannot overwrite previous ones.

Key Features:

Reliable upgrades

Atomic upgrades means system remains in a consistent state if upgrade is interrupted e.g. due to a power interruption

Openfiler converts x86_64 architecture to full-fledged SAN/NAS appliance of IP storage gateway. It is a powerful tool for storage administrators to cope with rapidly growing storage demands. It addresses all the key data storage indicators i.e. availability, reliability, scalability, and performance. Openfiler ensures administrators make the most use of storage capacity and system performance resources when managing and allocating storage on a multi-platform network.

Pconsole is a system administration tool for working with machine clusters. It allows one to simultaneously connect to multiple nodes of a cluster. Administrative commands typed in a specialized window are ‘multiplied' to each opened connection. It can be run in either X Windows or in console mode and need only be installed on one machine in the cluster.

PIKT is short for "Problem Informant/Killer Tool". It is a multipurpose, cross-categorical software for configuring and monitoring computer systems, organizing security, administering networks and plenty more. Whereas it is primarily meant for system monitoring and configuration management, its extensibility and versatility mean it has numerous other uses. It excels at handling a diverse set of machines, saving time and eliminating repetition.

PontusVision Thread Manager reduces the time required for system performance improvement from several weeks of unpredictable experiments to just seconds of simulations. It banks on industry-tested templates to automate software and hardware deployment.

Key Features:

Improves performance by as much as 270%

Simulation results can be applied to any modern multi-CPU server, operating system, and computer language

A major player in the automation marketplace, Puppet's client list features some big names including NASA, Salesforce, Intel, Gettyimages, Verizon, Uber, and Sony. Puppet provides a standard means of delivering and operating software. Its easy-to-read language simplifies the process of defining what your infrastructure and apps should look like.

Key Features:

Write your own code or select from the thousands of freely available modules

Manage the control, visibility, and automation of changes to your applications and infrastructure

Cloudshell Cloud Sandboxing solution is designed to speed up the development of hybrid applications for the cloud. Automate cloud environments testing and deployment to production on both public and private cloud infrastructure. It provides a common working environment for even the most complex hybrid cloud setups.

Qualys Policy Compliance (QPC) is a cloud management tool that facilitates the automation of IT security configuration assessment. It reduces risk and ensures continuous compliance with external regulations and internal policies.

Key Features:

Automated high volume identification, tracking, and scanning of network assets

Assessment goes beyond just the operating system and includes databases, applications, and network devices

Quattor is a system administration platform that provides a modular, portable and powerful tool set for the automated management, configuration, and installation of clouds, grids, farms, and clusters. Quattor has three key building blocks: Configuration Management Database (CMDB) server, the Automated Installation Infrastructure (AII) server, and Managed Clients.

Quest Cloud Manager is an enterprise solution that provides choice, governance, and agility in cloud management. The manager serves as a single portal for the control and implementation of governance policies.

Rundeck is open source software that automates routine and ad-hoc procedures for cloud environments. It is used by organizations keen on improving control of daily operations, reduce errors and improve auditability/visibility. Standardize operating procedures, define access controls and view activity reports on a single dashboard.

Key Features:

Jobs can be on-demand via API or web interface or triggered by a scheduler

End-to-end infrastructure orchestration across servers by using queries, filters, tags, and attributes

Can be executed across Unix and Windows platforms

Interested parties are automatically notified of the start, success or failure of a job

SaltStack is an established name in infrastructure automation. It approaches IT management by creating software that is easy to use, fast and scalable. SaltStack provides a dynamic communication bus for orchestration, configuration management, and remote execution. Since it was launched in 2011, SaltStack is one of the most active and fastest growing infrastructure automation projects in the world.

Scalr is an enterprise cloud management tool that facilitates the successful delivery of a standardized, automated, and cost-effective enterprise cloud. It uses a top-down, hierarchical approach that equips administrators with the requisite tools to balance development, security and finance needs.

ServiceNow Cloud Management simplifies and automates the full cloud services lifecycle. It creates an environment that optimizes resource utilization and drives down costs. Accelerate provisioning, approval and service requests. Manage cloud environment efficiently and consistently, while ensuring security and compliance.

Key Features:

Cloud-agnostic and can be extended to manage multiple private and public cloud environments

Full control of cloud services and resources including key metrics, business costs, and usage visibility

Single system of record for consistent configuration of cloud resources, business services, and data

Tstconfig allows system administrators to automatically test a large set of configuration files. It provides assurance on a system's level of integrity.

Key Features:

Enforce good configuration standards across multiple systems

It examines the existing configuration and confirms that specified attributes have the expected values

Notifies SysAdmins of discrepancies

Pricing:

Free

Remember that this list is in alphabetical order and is not ranked in terms of importance. Note that the same tool will have different importance and relevance from one organization to another. It will all depend on the complexity of the infrastructure environment the tool is meant for, the ease of integrating with existing systems and the acquiring organization's budget.

@DevOpsSummit at Cloud Expo taking place June 6-8, 2017, at Javits Center, New York City, and is co-located with the 20th International Cloud Expo and will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading industry players in the world.

The widespread success of cloud computing is driving the DevOps revolution in enterprise IT. Now as never before, development teams must communicate and collaborate in a dynamic, 24/7/365 environment. There is no time to wait for long development cycles that produce software that is obsolete at launch. DevOps may be disruptive, but it is essential.

@DevOpsSummitwill expand the DevOps community, enable a wide sharing of knowledge, and educate delegates and technology providers alike. Recent research has shown that DevOps dramatically reduces development time, the amount of enterprise IT professionals put out fires, and support time generally. Time spent on infrastructure development is significantly increased, and DevOps practitioners report more software releases and higher quality. Sponsors of @DevOpsSummitwill benefit from unmatched branding, profile building and lead generation opportunities through:

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All major researchers estimate there will be tens of billions devices - computers, smartphones, tablets, and sensors - connected to the Internet by 2020. This number will continue to grow at a rapid pace for the next several decades.

With major technology companies and startups seriously embracing Cloud strategies, now is the perfect time to attend @CloudExpo | @ThingsExpo, June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY and October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA. Learn what is going on, contribute to the discussions, and ensure that your enterprise is on the right path to Digital Transformation.

Delegates to Cloud Expo / @ThingsExpo will be able to attend 8 simultaneous, information-packed education tracks.

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Join Cloud Expo / @ThingsExpo conference chair Roger Strukhoff (@IoT2040), June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY and October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA for three days of intense Enterprise Cloud and 'Digital Transformation' discussion and focus, including Big Data's indispensable role in IoT, Smart Grids and (IIoT) Industrial Internet of Things, Wearables and Consumer IoT, as well as (new) Digital Transformation in Vertical Markets.

Financial Technology - or FinTech - Is Now Part of the @CloudExpo Program!

Accordingly, attendees at the upcoming 20th Cloud Expo / @ThingsExpo June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY and October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA will find fresh new content in a new track called FinTech, which will incorporate machine learning, artificial intelligence, deep learning, and blockchain into one track.

Financial enterprises in New York City, London, Singapore, and other world financial capitals are embracing a new generation of smart, automated FinTech that eliminates many cumbersome, slow, and expensive intermediate processes from their businesses.

FinTech brings efficiency as well as the ability to deliver new services and a much improved customer experience throughout the global financial services industry. FinTech is a natural fit with cloud computing, as new services are quickly developed, deployed, and scaled on public, private, and hybrid clouds.

More than US$20 billion in venture capital is being invested in FinTech this year. @CloudExpo is pleased to bring you the latest FinTech developments as an integral part of our program, starting at the 20th International Cloud Expo June 6-8, 2017 in New York City and October 31 - November 2, 2017 in Silicon Valley.

The upcoming 20th International @CloudExpo | @ThingsExpo, June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY and October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA announces that its Call For Papers for speaking opportunities is open.

Stackify offers the only developers-friendly solution that fully integrates error and log management with application performance monitoring and management. Allowing you to easily isolate issues, identify what needs to be fixed quicker and focus your efforts – Support less, Code more. Stackify provides software developers, operations and support managers with an innovative cloud based solution that gives them DevOps insight and allows them to monitor, detect and resolve application issues before they affect the business to ensure a better end user experience. Start your free trial now stackify.com

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Cloud computing is Internet based development and use of computer technology. It is a style of computing in which typically real-time scalable resources are provided 'as a service' over the Internet to users who need not have knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure ("in the cloud") that supports them.

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The competition among public cloud providers is red hot, private cloud continues to grab increasing shares of IT budgets, and hybrid cloud strategies are beginning to conquer the enterprise IT world.

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